Boatloading device for automobile tops



A. H. SUMNER BOAT LOADING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE TOPS June 10, 1952 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 Filed Jan. 16, 1948 36 ue 5s swam tom AFF'D/E H.5UMNER' ATTORNEYS A. H. S UMNER BOAT LOADING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILE TOPS June 1 10, 1952 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed Jan. '16, 1948 FIB-FE 9 m ARE/E Hj-EiL/MNER mwzomv f A TTORNEVS Patented June 10, 1952 BOATLOADING DEVICE FOR; AUTOMOBILE TOPS Ardie H. Sumner, Jackson, Mich.; Birdie v.,si1mner administratrix of said Ardie H. Sumner,

deceased Application January 16, 1948, Serial No. 2,567 7 Claims. (Cl. 224-421) This invention relates to racks or supporting frames known as car top carrier, and more particularly providing a loading device associated with a car top carrier so that a bulky, cumbersome object such as a fishing boat may be loaded on top of an automobile by the minimum of effort,preferably by one man.

Car top carriers for boats, ladders and other similar articles are not new, but may .be purchased built of wood, angle iron, pipe, and various other materials, and are very useful in transporting small fishing boats or ladders or other bulky materials on top of the typical passenger automobile. However, the problem of loading or unloading such bulky materials from the car top carrier has always been one which has called for a maximum of physical effort, usually for several men. It is my experience that a large number of men prefer to go fishing alone, regardless of the availability of otherwise companiable acquaintances. This solitary fisherman also prefers to carry his own boat on top of his automobile to the fishing site, use the boat on the body of water being fished, and return the boat to his own home upon leaving the fishing grounds. The loading of the boat on top of the automobile by such a solitary fisherman has heretofore been a most difficult problem, and has usually been impossible without injuring either the boat, or the automobile. Various devices have been suggested for assisting the fisherman to load his boat, including the provision of rearwardly extending arms equipped with rollers over which the boat may be pushed up from the back of the car, and other similar devices. These, however, have not been found too satisfactory, since'a great deal of work is still required of the fisherman, and it is extremely easy to damage the automobile while performing the operation. Car top carriers have become increasingly popular since the advent of the one-piece metal top automobile, and the problem fundamentally arose at that time. Through the years, automobiles have been steadily decreasing in overall height, but this advantage to the fisherman ha been more than offset by the increased rearwardly extending portions of popular cars, so that now it is extremely diflicult to load a boat over the rear of a car with the equipment available, especially for one man.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide loading means associated with a car top barrier which will facilitate the loading and uncarrier to such an extent that it may be by one man if necessary.

Other objects and advantages found in the construction of my invention will be apparent from a consideration of the following specification in connection with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings in which: V

Fig. I is a view in perspective of a car top carrier in position on the top of an automobile with the loading arm shown in two positions, one of them in dotted outline,

Fig. II is a plan view of my loader without th attachment straps or body clamps, and with a boat shown in two different positions in dotted outline, d

Fig. III is a broken view partially in section along the line IIIIII of Fig. II and showing the details of construction of the loading arm,

Fig. IV is a view similar to Fig. I, with the loading arm in position for loading, and the tie down straps not shown,

Fig. V is a view in elevation showin the method of loading the boat, and

Fig. VI is a perspective view of a slightly different style of car top carrier, with a different type of pivoted loading member. I

In the drawings, I have shown a car top carrier l0 constructed of hard wood and in position in Fig. I on a car top I2. The carrier 10 comprises the front cross member [4, the rear cross member l6 and the attached side members l8 and 20. The frame members are suitably joined together and may be supported on the car top I 2 by feet 22 which I have shown constructed of wood and attached to the members I4 and l6 by the screws 23, and with felt pads 24 placed on the under side thereof. A plurality of suction cup type feet may be substituted for the feet 22 and the same result accomplished. The car top carrier II] is held in position rigidly on the car top I2 by means of the engagement of body clamps or hooks 26 which are hooked tightly under the eavestrough beading 28 and then are tightened up by means of the trunbuckles 30. The turnbuckles 30 may be attached to the carrier II] by means of the screw eyes 32, and the felt pads 34 are furnished so that the car top [2 will not be marred in any way by the attachment structure. A long strap 36, partially shown in Fig. I is attached near the rear of the carrier H) preferably by the U-clamps 38 which are attached to the cross member [6.

' I recognize that all of the structure heretofore described is old, and that all of it may be constructed in a number of different ways, such as by substituting metal for the hard wood of the frame portion and by substituting suction cups or similarly functioning parts for the feet 22.

The loading arm 49 is approximately equal in length to the front cross member M, and is pivotally mounted adjacent the junction of the front cross member l4 and the side member 20 by means ,of the ,boltAZ. Since the loading arm 40, is subject to considerable .weight =and movement, I find it best to provide some sort of a bearing 44 at the pivotal mounting point so that the arm 40 may be moved as easily as possible. The arm 40 is equippedwitha strap 46 which is similar in size and function to the strap 36, and is attached to..the arm..0:by-the fittings 38. To furnish a. rolling support for,- the moving end of the loading arm 40, I have provided the large metal ball 48 which is housed in the fitting 50 which is in turnmounted in theaperture 52 which opens on the under gsidelof the loading arm 40. suitably, mounted wouldperform the samefunctiondnasatisfactory. manner. In the carryin position the ball 48 rests .on thefrontcrossmember 14 ,asshown in ,Figs. II v.an'dIII, .in the loading position the .ball' 4 8 rests on the side member20, as shown iniFigfI. For supporting ,the ball 4'8. and thereforethe'loading arm ilgduringthe rotating motion ofthe arm" twhen loading a" boat "or similar article, I?have provided the radial track,54. Theradial-trackfifi is formed with all points equidistant from the pivot point at ,the*-bolt42,tan'd has its one end joining with thefront cross-member Hi adjacent its junction with the side member l8, andits other end joining the side member zfladjaeent its junction with-therear "cross member '46. It might-be possible, using certain types -of-very stiff-- material, to use the-traek 54 under-"a heavy load-without bracing to support 'the load, but I have found, in constructing my -131Ck0f'0fl1ll6lf In of wood, that it is necessary touse a tangential type brace 56 which is fastened tothe :side memberl8- and the rear cross member a I B 'and which hasafairly long edge contiguous with thertraek 54 as at 58. To limit thetravel of thelloading arm 40, I'haveprovided'on its :under :face an upper stop pin 60 which in the carrying position engages the. :lower l-stop :pin. 62. which :projects out. of: the upper if ace. of :the :front cross :member M, and in the: loading. position. engages :the lower stop pini 6A which projects .out .of :the upper: face Qf.the side. member =20. To hold: theiloading; arm 41) iinxeither of its ;two stationary positions, I haveprovided a screen door hookzfifi which). may be engaged :with ';the screw :eye 6.8;in the= end of thefrontzcrossmember l4 .whenzthell'oadingzarm is :in :the, carrying position. and which: may engaged with the screw :eye "lfizwhen theloadm arm'isrin the loadingfiposition as shown in dotted outline in Fig. 'I.

':'In operation, my :boat loader .is :prepared- {for loading iby-rotatingthe loading arm :49 about the :pivot point vor :the bolt .42 to "the position shown .in. dottedoutline in Fig. 'I. The-screen door hook-".66 :is engaged with the screw eye to: hold the loading a-rnrimposition andithegstraps are loosened .rand then-allowed to fall down the sidepf the, car. With theeuuipment in .this position, ;a :boat may he leaned up against the side 0f the :loadingarm 40, preferably with the bow pointed up, and the strap ifiis secured as. :tiehtiy :as "possible :around the boat. The creen.-:do.0r:hook,;66;is .then disenga fr m-th screwwey .10, the :stern 10f the :boat is. liftedwso ha r-the-rhoat :rotateszabout the iloading-arm. 4,0,

A small wheel or caster and the arm 40 takes the large part of the weight of the boat. From this position, and with the stern of the boat lifted into the air, the operator walks toward the rear of the automobile, carrying the rear end of the boat, until the longitudinal axis of the boat is parallel with that of the automobile, -and partof the boat =-:is posiitioned :overi. the "rear cross member ax-at which time the rear of the boat is lowered so that the boat 69 rests on the rear cross member l6.

It will be appreciated that during this movement =the -loading=arm 66 has rotated about its pivot "point, with the steel ball 48 riding along the vtrack.iifiewhichcsupports the weight, and that the .top stop pimfiikhasengaged the bottom stop pin 82. The reanstraptfi may now be thrown across the boat 69 and tightened securely, followed by a'retightening'of the front strap 46. The screen door-hoek'fifi is then engaged in the screw eye 68, thereby completingrthe operation. The unloadingofv aaboat wouldbe. accomplished bye-exactlythe. reverse operation.

.In VI .is. showman alternativeconstruotionwhichutilizes action similar tolthatusedlby the .structure shown a in .the other. five .flgures. There .a can top -carrier 12 comprising. asingle transverse member ldlmounted onnsuppOrting feet structure 16 adaptedto engage the-toprof an automobile (not. shown) is. held in, position by the turnbuckle structure "l8 WhiChiS: similar to that shown in, Figs. 1, III, and .=l'.V. A .tiedown strap 38 .is attached to the-carrier .1-2 -by the fittings-82, and a pivoting -member 844s positioned for "pivotal -movement :adjacent one .end of the transverse member 14. The member 84 comprises alowenshaftatfi engageable'intthe aperture 83 for pivotal movement, and-an upper U-shaped portion ell-shaped to engagemn lipstanding --sideof the boat 1 G9 to -beloaded 2 and carried.

In the use of the leader: of this type, .the-*boat 69 is1pesitioned as shown in; full :line vin i igniw, with aportion of the upstanding. side ofzthesboat restingdn'ithe U shaped portionmfl; .Theahoat 69 may: then "be lifted, ;as :shown :in .Fig. and rotated. aroundas when; using :thecother type oof loader. :It :will: be found necessary'to: steady the unsupported isside 00f :the boat during-the lifting and pivoting operation when using -this alternative structureg butif'i the'boat is: not toolarg'e it will .be found :possible to f load it I in this manner.

Having thus described my invention, what I claimtas .new'iand desire .to .proteet byLLetters Patentis:

,1. gacaritoprcarrier :comprisingoa framegmeans supporting :said frame iOIl' top :of' an automobile. means:.for:holdingsaidifranrein :a'rselected position on top ;of an automobile, a :loadin'grarm pivotally mounted relative to said :frameifor movement about a -vertical axis, supporting means'associated with said' frame ami' acted upon bysaid loading arm, and load retainingitmeans associated with said frame to iholdiai load'nn'said frame.

2. A1-carrierfor use on top :of an automobilecomprising a frame supported and TSBCUIBCIJTIJD said top, a movable-arm pivotally :mounted 'on said frame for movement parallel :to the plane of said frame, an arcuate track portion asupported by said frame .and radially centered "relative -to said ;pivota.'lly mounted: .movablerarm, :attaching means: associated with said arm to securea loadtheretorfor pivotal movementthereof, and (attaching :means associated withnsaicl frame to secure a load theretor 3. A carrier accessory for an automobile top comprising rack structure securely mountable on said top, a movable arm pivotally mounted adjacent one of the ends of said arm on said rack structure for movement about a vertical axis, supporting means associated with the other end of said movable arm, a supporting'track associated with said rack structure and shaped and positioned to be engaged by said supporting means when said arm is moved pivotally, and attaching means associated with said rack structure to hold a load thereon.

4. An improvement in car top carriers comprising a loading arm pivotally supported adjacent its one end and one side by said carrier for movement about a vertical axis, supporting means associated with said loading arm adjacent its free end, and an arcuate track associated with said carrier and adapted to support said supporting means when said loading arm is being moved pivotally.

5. A carrier for use on top of an automobile comprising a main frame adapted to be supported parallel to the longitudinal axis of the automobile, superstructure for loading materials onto said carrier including a member supported for pivotal movement around a point adjacent one end and one side of said main frame for movement about a vertical axis, said member being adapted to pivot from a position substantially parallel to the axis of the automobile to a position substantially transverse to the axis of the automobile.

6. A boat carrier for use on top of an automobile comprising a main frame having end members and side members and supported parallel to the longitudinal axis of the automobile, a pivot structure defined adjacent the junction of one of the end members with one of the side members for movement about a vertical axis, and means to engage a boat to support the boat for pivotal movement about said pivot structure from a position transverse to the longitudinal axis of the automobile to a position parallel to the longitudinal axis of the automobile.

7. A boat carrier for use on top of an automobile comprising a rack supported on top of an automobile, and a loading arm supported for pivotal movement about a vertical axis about one corner of said rack such that a boat is carried parallel to the longitudinal axis of the automobile with the loading arm transverse to said axis, and a boat is loaded with said arm in a position substantially parallel to said axis.

ARDIE H. SUMNER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,889,350 Cohen-Venezian Nov. 29, 1932 2,180,032 Casley Nov. 4, 1939 2,395,173 Dobler Feb. 19, 1946 2,412,162 Lindblom Dec. 3, 1946 2,446,092 Lait July 27, 1948 2,448,591 Harder Sept. '7, 1948 2,469,945 Brei May 10, 1949 2,469,987 Pilsner May 10, 1949 2,470,848 Guest May 24, 1949 2,479,035 Burkey Aug. 16, 1949 2,486,316 Morse et a1 Oct. 25, 1949 2,506,421 Hacker et a1 May 2, 1950 

